Notice: It has been suggested that this page or section be split intoSword of the Surviving Guardian.
	Please discuss this on the talk page. Reason: Despite being derived from "My Friend and the Sunset", it has a unique and notable structure and other motifs.

"My Friend and the Sunset",^[1] also titled"Revenge of Meta Knight: Ending",^[2] is a recurring musical theme in theKirby series composed byJun Ishikawa. The track was first used inKirby Super Star, serving as the ending musical theme ofRevenge of Meta Knight which plays during the credits sequence, itself titled "Friends and Sun". It has since been heard in various forms in several other games in the series, generally being associated withMeta Knight as a character. The track has also made appearances outside the video games, notably in theKirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert andThe Sound of Kirby Café 2.

Composition[edit]

This theme is a jazzy blues song in the key of A minor, set at 78 beats per minute. The song bears a striking resemblance to the traditional folk song "The House of the Rising Sun", particularlythe 1964 blues cover by British rock band The Animals. One similarity worth noting is that both songs are set in 6/8 time, with prominent use of guitararpeggios outlining the rhythm. The main instrument used is a trumpet, with a Hammond organ as accompaniment.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby Super Star /Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

In theKirby Super Star andKirby Super Star Ultra gameRevenge of Meta Knight, this theme plays during the endingTheater movie "Friends and Sun": TheHalberd is destroyed,Kirby manages to escape withWheelie, and everyHelper in this game is shown on the screen before the duo ride off into the sunset. Exclusively inKirby Super Star Ultra, "My Friend and the Sunset" also plays at the Continue? screen after getting aGame Over inMeta Knightmare Ultra.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse[edit]

A remix of this theme can be unlocked by collecting one of theTreasure Chests found in theVolcanic Panic stage, to then be played in the game'sMusic Room (Track 029). Here it is titled"Revenge of Meta Knight: Ending".

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

InKirby: Planet Robobot, this theme is remixed as the level complete theme ofMeta Knightmare Returns theSub-Game. The remix is titled"Brothers in Arms"^[3] which refers to the bond betweenMeta Knight and hisMeta-Knights. This version can be found as Track 139 in the game'sJukebox.

This theme and "King Dedede's Theme" are also mashed up intoDedede Clones & D3's theme, "Dedede's Tridimensional Cannon".^[3]

Kirby Battle Royale[edit]

"Brothers in Arms" fromKirby: Planet Robobot is used in this game duringDedede's Cake Royale. It appears in the Music Collection as"Cake Royale 9" and plays during Meta Knight's dialogue after he is defeated at the end of the Gold League, as he congratulates Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee for their victory. It is not used anywhere else in the game, but can be accessed and purchased in the Collection after hearing it once.

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

InKirby Star Allies, this theme is remixed as theboss battle theme ofMeta Knight at theSacred Square stage. This version is called"The Clash of Comrades' Blades" onNintendo Music and can be found as track 035 in the game'sJukebox.

A small portion of the theme also plays whenever Meta Knight appears as aDream Friend, thus solidifying the association between the theme and Meta Knight as a character. This jingle is called"Meet Up with Meta Knight!" on Nintendo Music and can be found as track 131 in the game's Jukebox.

A faint whistle of this theme can also be heard before the duel in Meta Knight's boss room, prior to initiating the fight with him. It is not clear if Meta Knight himself is whistling the theme.

The music that plays when battlingParallel Meta Knight andParallel Dedede also features this theme. It is called "Against a Sword-King, the Dimension to Win" on Nintendo Music and can be found as track 193 in the game's Jukebox.

• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:KSA_A_Solitary_Resounding_Whistle.mp3
  "A Solitary Resounding Whistle" byJun Ishikawa.
• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:KSA_Meta_Knight_Battle_Sample.oga
  "The Clash of Comrades' Blades" by Jun Ishikawa.
• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:KSA_-_Meta_Knight_Jingle.mp3
  "Meet Up with Meta Knight!" by Hirokazu Ando.
• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:KSA_Against_a_Sword-King_the_Dimension_to_Win_MFatS.oga
  "Against a Sword-King, the Dimension to Win" byYuuta Ogasawara.

Kirby Fighters 2[edit]

InKirby Fighters 2, an extended remix of this theme, incorporating themain theme of the game, plays in the credits that plays after beating Chapter 4 ofStory Mode: The Destined Rivals.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land /Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World[edit]

Meta Knight's battle theme inKirby and the Forgotten Land and itsNintendo Switch 2 Edition, titled"Sword of the Surviving Guardian", incorporates a new remix of the theme byYuuta Ogasawara, though the inclusion of other motifs and variations building up cause the most apparent use of "My Friend and the Sunset" to be found shortly before the loop point. The most prominent melodic instruments are a bass guitar, saxophone, and trumpet in key of E minor, and the instruments take turns with the melody and harmony throughout the track. Notably, the leitmotif of "My Friend and the Sunset" itself has been altered and slightly extended, differing greatly from previous usages. The last third has been pitch-altered, and the lone ending chord of prior versions has been replaced with a new series of notes, ending the motif more energetically. Finally, many of the phrases in the track open with a similar arpeggio to the one found as the first three notes in almost every phrase in the parent theme.

Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

The arrangement fromKirby and the Forgotten Land can be unlocked as a Race music titled"Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Bonus Song 1" if the game detects save data forKirby and the Forgotten Land on the user's Switch. It can also play randomly duringFree Rolling mode.

Other appearances[edit]

The original version of "My Friend and the Sunset" was included as track 34 in the compilation albumThe Very Best of Kirby: 52 Hit Tracks, where it is titledメタナイトの逆襲：エンディング (Revenge of Meta Knight: Ending).

TheKirby Super Star Ultra version is included as track 21 on theKirby Ultra Super Deluxe Original Sound Track. Notably, it is here where the song gained its current name.

A short remix of "My Friend and the Sunset" appears in the Japanese version ofKirby: Right Back at Ya! in the episodeEscar-Gone, shortly beforeEscargoon bumps intoKirby in a countryside. This theme also was included inKirby & The Amazing Mirror Sound Plus as track 36, where it is titled after the Japanese name of the episode in question.

Covers of "My Friend and the Sunset" have been performed in theKirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert (Track 3: "King Dedede & Meta Knight Medley"), as well as inThe Sound of Kirby Café 2 CD (Track 5: "Coffee Shop of Twilight and Starry Skies"). In both performances, the track is played in a medley with other musical themes.

OnKirby 30th Anniversary Site, theKirby Super Star Ultra arrangement plays when viewing Kirby number 18 ("Friend, Sunset, and...").

"My Friend and the Sunset" is the last song featured in the "Revenge of Meta Knight Medley" inTaiko no Tatsujin. Unlike the other songs, it is not playable, and instead begins after the medley is cleared — fitting its original appearance.

"Sword of the Surviving Guardian" is included on The Sound of Kirby Café - Jazz Style - and The Sound of Kirby Café - Jazz Style Selection - alongside "Roar of Dedede" as a part of the medley シャウテッド・ナイツ (Shouted Knights), which was arranged byYuko Komiyama.

• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:KRBaY_Escar_Gone_sample.mp3
  "Forgotten Escargon" from the Japanese version ofKirby: Right Back at Ya!
• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:Kirby_25th_Anniversary_Concert_My_Friend_and_the_Sunset_Sample.oga
  "My Friend and the Sunset" in "King Dedede & Meta Knight Medley" from theKirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert, arranged byMegumi Ohara and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:Coffee_Shop_of_Twilight_and_Starry_Skies_preview.mp3
  "My Friend and the Sunset" in "Coffee Shop of Twilight and Starry Skies" fromThe Sound of Kirby Café 2 by Megumi Ohara.
• https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:TSoKCJS_Shouted_Knights_Sword_of_the_Surviving_Guardian.mp3
  "Sword of the Surviving Guardian" in "Shouted Knights" fromThe Sound of Kirby Café - Jazz Style -

Trivia[edit]

• The ending ofRevenge of the King, another main game ofKirby Super Star Ultra, is a parody ofRevenge of Meta Knight itself, including its ending movie "The King and the Sun" and said cutscene'smusic, an alternate version of "King Dedede's Theme" styled after "My Friend and the Sunset".
• TheKirby Super Star andKirby and the Rainbow Curse renditions actually both use the same "Rock Organ" instrument sample from the Roland sound library. InKirby Super Star,Jun Ishikawa sampled the instrument from the Roland U-220 sound module, while inKirby and the Rainbow Curse,Shogo Sakai arranged the song using his Roland SOUND Canvas SK-88 Pro keyboard, which includes the same instrument.

Video gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

My Friend and the Sunset[edit]

Revenge of Meta Knight: Ending[edit]

Brothers in Arms[edit]

The Clash of Comrades' Blades[edit]

Meet Up with Meta Knight![edit]

Sword of the Surviving Guardian[edit]

References

• Featured pages
• Music in Kirby Super Star
• Music in Kirby Super Star Ultra
• Music in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
• Music in Kirby: Planet Robobot
• Music in Kirby Battle Royale
• Music in Kirby Star Allies
• Music in Kirby Fighters 2
• Music in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
• Music in Kirby's Dream Buffet
• Music in Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World
• Music in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
• Music from Kirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert
• Music in Kirby Café

• Pages using Tabber parser tag
• Pages to be split
• Articles which list Japanese names
• Articles which list French names
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• Articles which list Korean names